Cap for ink-jet recording apparatus, and ink-jet recording apparatus

Abstract

An ink-jet recording apparatus includes a recording head upon which ink discharging orifices are arrayed, a cap, having a perimeter coming into contact with a discharging orifice face on the recording head and a sealing space within the perimeter of the cap for covering the discharging orifices, an ink absorbing member provided in the sealing space, and a holding member provided within the sealing space at a position separated from the perimeter so as not to come into contact with the discharging orifice face when the perimeter of the cap is in contact with the discharging orifice face, to hold and prevent the ink absorbing member from being removed from the sealing space. Thus, the ink absorbing member is tightly held in contact to the sealing space of the cap so as to not depart therefrom, and particularly so as to not depart from a suctioning opening at the bottom face of the cap.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, comprising: 
       a cap, having a perimeter coming into contact with a discharging orifice face upon which a discharging orifice for discharging ink is provided, and a sealing space within said perimeter for covering said discharging orifice;  
       an ink absorbing member provided in said sealing space; and  
       a holding member, sticking out from the bottom of said cap and apart from said perimeter of said cap, for directly holding said ink absorbing member to prevent said ink absorbing member from being removed from said sealing space,  
       wherein said holding member is integrally provided with said cap by the same material as that of said cap, and is disposed at a position not facing an ink discharge orifice of a recording head.  
     
     
       2. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein said cap has a suctioning opening formed at the bottom face portion thereof, and wherein said holding member is disposed near said suctioning opening. 
     
     
       3. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 2 , wherein more than one said holding member is provided, with said suctioning opening therebetween. 
     
     
       4. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 2 , wherein, in a state with the suctioning opening of said cap and said ink absorbing member in contact, the distance between a position wherein said holding member acts upon said ink absorbing member by making contact thereto and the position of said suctioning opening is 4 mm or less. 
     
     
       5. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 2 , wherein said holding member is configured so as to not protrude above the upper face of said ink absorbing member in a state with the suctioning opening of said cap and said ink absorbing member in contact. 
     
     
       6. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said holding member and said ink absorbing member is formed of an elastic material, and wherein said holding member and said ink absorbing member are disposed in a compressed state. 
     
     
       7. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 1 , wherein an elastic member which deforms by contact with said ink absorbing member of said holding member is disposed at the point of contact with said ink absorbing member. 
     
     
       8. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 7 , wherein a hole for accepting said holding member is formed in said ink absorbing member, and wherein said elastic member is disposed on said holding member so as to come into contact with the inner wall of said hole. 
     
     
       9. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 7 , wherein said holding member is integrally provided with said cap and said elastic member is formed by the same material as that of said cap. 
     
     
       10. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 7 , wherein said elastic member is a rib. 
     
     
       11. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 10 , wherein the width of said rib is 0.3 mm or less. 
     
     
       12. A cap for an ink-jet recording apparatus, according to  claim 10 , wherein said rib has a cross-sectional form of a triangle with the apex thereof toward said ink absorbing member. 
     
     
       13. An ink-jet recording apparatus for recording an image on a recording media using a recording head on which an ink discharging orifice is provided, comprising: 
       a cap, having a perimeter coming into contact with a discharging orifice face upon which a discharging orifice for discharging ink is provided, and a sealing space within said perimeter for covering said discharging orifice;  
       an ink absorbing member provided in said sealing space; and  
       a holding member, sticking out from the bottom of said cap and apart from said perimeter of said cap, for directly holding said ink absorbing member to prevent said ink absorbing member from being removed from said sealing space,  
       wherein said holding member is integrally provided with said cap by the same material as that of said cap, and is disposed at a position not facing an ink discharge orifice of a recording head.  
     
     
       14. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said cap has a suctioning opening formed at the base portion thereof, and wherein said holding member is disposed near said suctioning opening. 
     
     
       15. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein more than one said holding member is provided, with said suctioning opening therebetween. 
     
     
       16. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein, in a state with the suctioning opening of said cap and said ink absorbing member in contact, the distance between a position wherein said holding member acts upon said ink absorbing member by making contact thereto and the position of said suctioning opening is 4 mm or less. 
     
     
       17. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said holding member is configured so as to not protrude above the upper face of said ink absorbing member in a state with the suctioning opening of said cap and said ink absorbing member in contact. 
     
     
       18. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said holding member and said ink absorbing member is formed of an elastic material, and wherein said holding member and said ink absorbing member are disposed in a compressed state. 
     
     
       19. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein an elastic member which deforms by contact with said ink absorbing member of said holding member is disposed at the point of contact with said ink absorbing member. 
     
     
       20. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein a hole for accepting said holding member is formed in said ink absorbing member, and wherein said elastic member is disposed on said holding member so as to come into contact with the inner wall of said hole. 
     
     
       21. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said elastic member is integrally provided with said cap and said holding member by the same material as that of said cap. 
     
     
       22. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein said elastic member is a rib. 
     
     
       23. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein the width of said rib is 0.3 mm or less. 
     
     
       24. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 22 , wherein said rib has a cross-sectional form of a triangle with the apex thereof toward said ink absorbing member. 
     
     
       25. An ink-jet recording apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein said recording head generates bubbles in ink using thermal energy, and discharges ink based on the generating of said bubbles.